Steel running board



Oct. 22,1929. w. J. SPIRO STEEL RUNNING BOARD Filed March 20., 1928Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEEL RUNNING BOARD Application filed March 20, 1928. Serial No.263,064.

This invention relates to a steel running board and particularly to arigid all metal construction designed to provide greater strength andprotection than is secured in the use of the ordinary wooden runningboard.

In this class of work it is particularly important that the outer edgeof the running board he of a heavy material in order to resist damagefrom accidental contact therewith and to protect the body of the vehiclefrom injury by a colliding or sideswiping engagement of another vehicle.The tread or surface of the running board does not require such heavymaterial, but should be longitudinally braced or stiffened againstspringing or bending by any load placed thereon, while it is essentialto provide a substantially flat and continuous upper face to receive theusual covering material for the tread. 'The rezo quirement for differentwidths of running boards for various constructions of automo-- biles hasrendered their production costly as special tools and machinery werenecessary when one-piece metal construction was used. :5 In the eventthat the board is composed of a numberof fitted and bolted parts thelabor in volved prevents economical production.

To avoid these objections and provide'a simple construction embodyingthe advantages stated, I have produced a running board from a pluralityof similar channel iron units having their abutting flanges securedtogether, for instance'by welding, and such depending longitudinalflanges effectually 5 stiffen the boar-d throughout its I length. Theseunit irons'may be further connected by supporting brackets securedthereto and adapted to span the longitudinal flanges. By such anassemblage the outer iron forming the 40 frame of the board may be ofheavier material, or of greater strain resisting qualities, and theinner irons formmg the body or tread of much lighter material onlysuflicient to.

carry the weight or load imposed thereon. This weight of material may begreatly reduced by the use of the abutting longitudinal flanges andsupporting brackets which resists any springing or downward bending atthe tread portion of the board. The construction also provides for theproduction of boards of different widths by varying the number or widthof the inner irons used, which avoids the necessity of special tools ormachinery for each desired size of running board, as a variation in theassemblage of the units will provide for the production of boards of anydesired width and strength. The supporting bracket is also provided witha special means for receiving and retaining the attaching bolt adaptedto be secured to the usual hanger from the chassis of the vehicle.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel andimprovedconstruction including a plurality of longitudinallyextendingchannel irons having depending abutting flanges securedtogether to stiffen the tread portion of the board. A further object ofthe invention is to present a new structure of running board formed oflongitudinally extending channel iron units, with the 1 outer memberthereof of greater strain resisting qualities than the remaining unitsto produce a protecting face at the outer edge of the board.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a body or tread portionof substantially U-shaped channel irons having depending flanges andconnected by transverse brackets secured to the under faces of theirons.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction of supporting bracket having members for attachment to therunning board and a slotted body adapted to receive a securing device,together with a finger alined; with the slot and disposed parallelthereto.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a' bottom plan;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a detail edge view with parts broken away; 7

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on &4 of Fig. 1, and

line

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing.

The metal running board may be produced of any desired size or shape andthe body thereof is formed by a plurality of parallel longitudinallyextending channel irons 10 having depending vertical flanges 11 disposedin contact with each other throughout their length and secured togetherby any desired means, such as the rebent end 11 of one flange embracingthe associated flange. These irons provide a flat upper surface formingthe tread of the board and adapted to receive any preferred covering tobe used thereon. The flanges form parallel longitudinal stiffening meanswhich prevent any bending of the board intermediate its ends.

The outer edge of the board if provided with a channel iron 12 of lesswidth or of greater strength, and the inner flange 13 of this outer ironis secured to the flange 11 of the next body iron, while the outerflange 14 of the iron 12 depends below the before mentioned flanges toform an apron. At the inner edge of the board a similar, relativelynarrow channel iron 15 has its inner flange 16 secured to the adjacentbody iron, and may also be provided if desired with a depending apron17.

The ends of the longitudinal member 10 are connected by a transversechannel iron 18 of relatively narrow width and secured to the under faceof the top of all of the channel irons in any desired manner, such asby'spot welding as indicated at 19. To permit the application of theirons 18 the flanges 11, 13 and 16 are cut away at both ends of thelongitudinal irons for a distance equal to the width of the transverseirons l8 so-that thelatter may abut the ends of the flanges; Thesetransverse irons are apertured and adaptedto be secured to the ends ofthe fenders in the usual manner.

For the purpose of laterally supporting the board a series of braces orbrackets are applied to the under face thereof. These brackets may be ofdifferent forms, but a desirable construction comprises a U-shapedmember having attaching flanges 21 adapted to be secured to the underface of the irons 10 in any manner, for instance spot welding asindicated at 22. Vertical walls 23 depend from these flanges and areformed with recesses 24: to receive the longitudinal flanges of thechannel irons and are connected by a horizontal portion 25. This portionhas formed therefrom a finger 26 terminating at its free end in anenlargement 27 and these parts are alined with the slot 28 and eye 29formed by cutting the finger from the body. This finger construction isfor the purpose of attaching the board to the usual Figure 2.

The head 31 of the securing bolt 32 is passed through the eye intoengagement with the end of the finger and then moved along the slotuntil in proper position to enter its aperture 33 in the hanger. It isnot necessary that all of the brackets be provided with attaching means,as they may be omitted, as at 25 in Figure 1. 1

It will be seen that'the invention presents a simple, efiicient andeconomically manufactured metal running board adapted to secure themaximum strength with the minimum weight of material as the structureprovides parallel lines of longitudinal and transverse bracing and isadapted to be assembled in the desiredsize without the use of bolts orsimilar manually applied connecting devices. By the use of U-shapedchannel irons a substantially flat continuous tread surface is securedand the application of the outer iron of greater strength permits theinner irons to be of lighter material and of relatively greater width.The brackets brace the longitudinal irons against the transverse strainand in connection with the outer iron resists any crushing lateralpressure applied to the board so as to protect the car from injury dueto collision.

While the specific details of the invention have been shown anddescribed the invention is not confined thereto as changes andalterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined s by the following claims. i

What I claim is v 1. A running board including a plurality of separatelongitudinally extending channel irons abutting each other and securedin such contact, one of said irons having inherent in itself greaterstrength characteristics than the adjacent iron. 1

2. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinallyextending channel irons abutting each other and secured in such contact,the outer iron thereof having inherent in itself greater strainresisting qualities than the associated irons.

.3. A running'board including an outer sep- 5 arate longitudinallyextending channel iron of heavy material extending in parallel relationto inner longitudinal channel irons of lighter material. 7

4:. A running board including an outer separate longitudinally extendingchannel iron of heavy material extending in parallel relation to innerlongitudinal channel irons of lighter material, and end channel irons inabutting relation to the longitudinal irons and secured thereto. I

5. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinallyextending channel irons having depending parallel flanges secured toeach other, and supporting brackets secured to the irons and extendingtransversely of said flanges to embrace the same.

6. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinallyextending channel irons having depending flanges secured to each other,a support bracket secured to the under face of abutting irons andembracing the flanges thereof, and means upon said bracket for retaininga securing member in contact therewith.

7 A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extendingchannel irons having depending flanges secured to each other, asupporting bracket secured to the under face of abutting irons andhaving a slotted body with an entrance eye, and a finger disposed inalinement with said slot and parallel thereto.

8. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extendingchannel irons secured together, and a U-shaped supporting bracket havingat its free ends flanges for attachment to said irons and a slotted bodyportion formed with an overlying finger alined with said slot.

9. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extendingchannel irons having depending flanges secured to each other, and atransverse supporting bracket having flanges secured to the under faceof said irons and recessed to receive the depending flanges therefrom.

10. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extendingchannel irons having depending flanges spaced from the opposite ends ofthe irons, and end channel irons abutting the ends of the longitudinalflanges and secured to the under face of the horizontal portion of suchlongitudinal irons.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER J. SPIRO.

